Free Church hymns

Protest grows against Free Church hymns 10/3/11

The Free Church of Scotland is warning its members that they may be unwittingly backing a potential split in the church if they sign a controversial petition against introducing music and hymns.

A growing protest is emerging from within its ecclesiastical ranks calling upon its governing body, the General Assembly, which meets on 23rd May to reverse the contentious development and revert to the tradition of unaccompanied psalm singing

Though congregations can freely chose to shun hymns and musical instruments a large number of parishioners strongly feel the church has broken church law and is abandoning its constitutional heritage.

For the sake of peace and unity, not so many are willing to force the issue, fearing the conclusion would create yet another schism in an already weakened church.

However, a controversial petition, titled a Memorial and Protestation, has been circulating around some congregations for the past two weeks or so, and is now reaching a far wider audience after campaigners took out advertisements in newspapers across the Hebridean and Highlands heartland of the church.

Impressions of an apparent threat in the final sentence of the Memorial gravely concerns the church.

In a toned down version of an original statement, the document warns: “We declare that we shall claim all competent redress from any consequences which adherence to our principles may threaten or involve.”

The pre-amble to the document, titled “The Protection and Preservation of Historic Scottish Presbyterianism," states: “It is sad to see the energy of the church being absorbed with yet another attempt to destroy its own foundations and causing huge divisions in the process.”

It accuses “misguided leaders of the church” of deploying “new gimmicks to fill church pews.“

It alleges the changes were forced upon ordinary worshippers without consultation and says: “No institution can survive with double standards for its office bearers, far less a church.”

The document claims church leaders have abused their roles to “undermine the position of the church, bring about division and breed confusion.“

Free Church spokesman, Rev Iver Martin, said: “I was alarmed and sadden by the document.

“First of all, it seems to give the impression of being an official Free Church document.

“It has no authority and was not produced by any session or presbytery.

“It has been generated, rather, by a few individuals.”

Mr Martin added: “Secondly, the petition makes some statements which are inaccurate and I am worried people may sign it without knowing what they are signing.”

He stressed: “Thirdly, what worries me most is the end of the petition gives the impression of a veiled threat to break away from the church. I wonder if people are aware of that.”

The Memorial petition seems to be the most serious bid so far to challenge the church authority and follows an low key but significant summit of Free Church office bearers on Lewis last month.

Many church elders say the new worship policy forces them to break their holy ordination vows - a view shared by Rev Kenny Stewart of North Uist and Glasgow who resigned in protest over the issue in February.

Some 200 ministers and elders voted 98 to 84 in favour of the changes at a historic Plenary Assembly in Edinburgh over four months ago - the first of its kind since the denomination was created in 1843 when it split from the Church of Scotland.

The seminal change was approved by a narrow majority of just 14 with over 30 members at the session recording their dissent.